Proposal: Fire DJ Smith

[Ice-Tray]

DJ was brought in to develop the kids as we played through tanking seasons to get high draft picks. Then expectations changed to challenge for wins last year, and now the expectations are to play meaningful games in March.

Like him or not, and mistakes aside (he is a new young coach after all) we have pretty much met expectations each year in terms of team goals.

The only thing that was a miss this season was the November blues. We are certainly back on track right now to be playing meaningful games for the rest of the season. We’ll see how it unfolds.

I think a lot of people had their own expectations over the last two seasons and have been frustrated that the team hasn’t met them. That’s the way it goes though when you set expectations too high.

I suspect that we’ll hear a lot less about firing DJ in here as this play continues, just like we have thankfully stopped hearing the griping about Zaitsev. As other have pointed out for weeks now, the underlying numbers have been very good for this team, and now the wins are starting to come. The team is being rewarded for sticking to it.

Feeling good feels good

 

[boxbox]

difficult to read.


Let's get past Montreal, Florida, Detroit and Washington (with lots of injuries) and stay above Buffalo first. Just an idea.

not here for style points, thats for the big boys, 4th line /3 rd line writting at best ...all energy in short stretches of few words and a mess if left out there too long as we get to multiple sentences/paragraph territory of the post

I love the catchall of "not being ready"

-We went 4-2 to start the season, outplaying Buffalo in one of our loses, and hanging in there in the other lose to the Leafs.
-Norris and Zub got hurt
-We went 0-6-1 despite having respectable underlying numbers and losing each of those games by one goal(less EN)

The truth is we played well enough to weather a storm and come out with a few more points but sometimes you lose games you played well enough in to get a point out of or win. Thats what happens when you have parity in the league. Sometimes a goalie has an off night, sometimes you don't get the puck luck and sometimes the opposition outplayed you. Does that mean you weren't ready? Seems like a lazy analysis to me. There were areas in our game worthy of criticism but there were also areas worthy of praise. Because we went on a losing skid, people naturally focused on the criticisms.

I agree with you 100%. I was looking at the standings to today and in the East pretty much Columbus is the only team that would need to go on a crazy run to challenge for a playoff spot as they 13 points out while the rest of teams are 2-5 points out.

At the start of the season the Sens were losing games which they should have won. There were very few instances where the team got outplayed by the opposition. Even when they did lose the games were enjoyable to watch because the Sens outplayed the other team.

Maybe the recent stretch of good hockey is mainly the result of everyone settling down and being comfortable. A lot of new faces are on this team this year from the front to the back end.

I admit I flirted with the idea of them not being focused early in the games, not because of coaching but because of their youth and the team having a veteran leadership void (not a weakness or such).

It seems almost crazy to me how little of the blame our goaltending was awarded when blame was being handed out. I am aware we don't have 6 Chris Prongers back there but I am also aware our D is not bottom of the league bad . Terrible goal-tending deflates the whole team. The Sens goalies had a bottom 5 in the league combined save% for long enough stretches of the season so far for it to receive so little attention. I dont think its any coencidence the team is having the best stretch of the season as our starting goalie is finally playing like a dependable starting goalie. Sens don't need elite goal-tending; just steady and consistent .

 

[boxbox]

DJ was brought in to develop the kids as we played through tanking seasons to get high draft picks. Then expectations changed to challenge for wins last year, and now the expectations are to play meaningful games in March.

Like him or not, and mistakes aside (he is a new young coach after all) we have pretty much met expectations each year in terms of team goals.

The only thing that was a miss this season was the November blues. We are certainly back on track right now to be playing meaningful games for the rest of the season. We’ll see how it unfolds.

I think a lot of people had their own expectations over the last two seasons and have been frustrated that the team hasn’t met them. That’s the way it goes though when you set expectations too high.

I suspect that we’ll hear a lot less about firing DJ in here as this play continues, just like we have thankfully stopped hearing the griping about Zaitsev. As other have pointed out for weeks now, the underlying numbers have been very good for this team, and now the wins are starting to come. The team is being rewarded for sticking to it.

Feeling good feels good

not getting ahead here ...but history does indicate teams which overcome such struggles and stick together become really good

Should we call someone?

lets ride the wave for a bit longer ...then we can pick a username from a hat

 

[swiftwin]

I thought this was interesting....
DJ and Dorion before the season. DJ said we'd have a successful season if our special teams could combine to 105%. Friedman and Marek are like "wow, that's ambitious". We currently have a combined 104.5% special teams (9th best in the NHL).

We're now sitting at an eyepopping 108.5% combined special teams! DJ is killing it!

Bonus: Talbot is at .916%

 

[boxbox]

We're now sitting at an eyepopping 108.5% combined special teams! DJ is killing it!

Bonus: Talbot is at .916%

As Talbot goes so does this team... We seem to have the offense. Defenses tend to be only as good as the goalies are. Last 10 games vs last 10 games prior ...far less complaining about the D. Coincidentally Talbot has had one game in the last 10 where he had a sub .900 sv% and allowed more then 3 goals. Take away that bad game and he has a 0.934 sv% with a 2 gaa in his last 9 games. Kudos to him for getting his crap together. I don't expect him to keep posting numbers like that for the rest of the season; that would put him in top 5 in the league (who knows maybe he has it in him). As long as he stays within his carreer avereages for both GAA and % , the offense does what it does and the defense settles and keeps trending up; barring any major injuries, there is no reason to not think this team can win 6 games out each 10 game stretch for the remained of the season.

 

[Silencio]

December of DJ

 

[boxbox]

We're now sitting at an eyepopping 108.5% combined special teams! DJ is killing it!

Bonus: Talbot is at .916%

Thanks for posting that. Its bits like this people don't pay attention to when judging the team and its performance. Both the GM and COACH set out expectations and bench marks they feel would translate to positive results. Based on the special teams combined number you posted it seems the team is actually ahead. I am aware the last 10 games have greatly improved all stats but it goes without saying if the season ended today the numbers are what they are and they. if this team ends up being a .500 team at the end of the season its a step forward. A young team like this one can only keep getting better when growth and improvements can be seen, but it does not happen overnight Avs, Devils took almost a decade with theirs. For the first time in a long time I feel like players that need to be paid will get paid and we wont be losing players because of money. Being smart with money isnt the same as being cheap. Yes management seems stingy at time, and yes made some odd signings , but I can't think of too many ex Sens that signed big money contracts else where to exactly make the team regret not re signing them to similar deals based on their productions/success .


As Talbot goes so does this team... We seem to have the offense. Defenses tend to be only as good as the goalies are. Last 10 games vs last 10 games prior ...far less complaining about the D. Coincidentally Talbot has had one game in the last 10 where he had a sub .900 sv% and allowed more then 3 goals. Take away that bad game and he has a 0.934 sv% with a 2 gaa in his last 9 games. Kudos to him for getting his crap together. I don't expect him to keep posting numbers like that for the rest of the season; that would put him in top 5 in the league (who knows maybe he has it in him). As long as he stays within his carreer avereages for both GAA and % , the offense does what it does and the defense settles and keeps trending up; barring any major injuries, there is no reason to not think this team can win 6 games out each 10 game stretch for the remained of the season.

 

[slamigo]

I am very slowing coming around to thinking about possibly believing in DJ.

 

[Bileur]

The team still had Alfredsson, Spezza, Gonchar, Foligno, Michalek, Phillips, and we added Turris by trading off futures, like you said, it was a retool, not a rebuild, playoffs were absolutely the expectation for MacLean. Worst case the expectation was similar to this year for DJ. Macleans situation was in no way similar to DJ when they were hired, it's absurd to suggest otherwise.

I expressly didn’t suggest DJ and MacLean were in the same situation, I just questioned your statement by saying “I don’t think it’s true MacLean was brought in to a team expected to make the playoffs”. The Sens were definitely in transition when they hired MacLean, whether we call it a rebuild or retool doesn’t really matter, playoffs we’re not the expectation year one.
Most prognosticators had us missing the playoffs (if not dead last in the east):

The Hockey News 2011-12 NHL predictions | The Hockey News

2011/2012 NHL Season Predictions: Eastern Conference - The Hockey Writers Uncategorized Latest News, Analysis & More

Eastern Conference // Western Conference With most teams kicking off training camp this week, preseason hockey right around the corner and puck drop slightly less than a month away, you…

thehockeywriters.com

2011-12 season preview: Ottawa Senators

The Senators might have a chance to be scrappy during the 2011-12 season, but they might be better off hitting the lottery for another year.

nhl.nbcsports.com

NHL 2011-2012 Predictions: Bold Eastern Conference Preview and Picks

It's that time of year again, folks. Hockey is back, and the faceoff of the 2011-2012 NHL season is less than two weeks away. With the preseason already underway, the ongoing river of "expert" predictions is in full swing...

bleacherreport.com

Even Bryan Murray thought the Sens were in a “growth stage” in 2011-2012: Sens enthusiastic about youthful look – Sportsnet.ca

 

[TonySoprano11]

You people are nuts. The wins are great of course and I hope they continue.

But eeking out a series of wins against mostly other bottom feeders does not excuse the absolute shit show that has been the DJ Smith show the last few years.

 

[boxbox]

You people are nuts. The wins are great of course and I hope they continue.

But eeking out a series of wins against mostly other bottom feeders does not excuse the absolute shit show that has been the DJ Smith show the last few years..

the idea is to beat the teams below you ...the parity across the league has created scenarios where a string of few unlucky loses and loses where your team was better can be the difference of being in the playoffs or being a lottery team. It is that close right now which is great for the league.

shit show ? I am not saying DJ is Gods gift or in a class of his own but to constantly point the finger at him, label him as a bad & clueless coach when the team was handed to him during al rebuild does get a bit annoying. For as long as I can remember there seems to be finally a good vibe around the team. Even when the team is faced with adversity and struggles they stick together. That is as much on the coach and his impact as it is on the players. Al this while the team is being closely watched more than ever in part what transpired in the last 5 plus year; that was a shit show.

I don't want the Sens to over achieve and disappoint when they come back down to earth .... or underachieve and never come back up. DJ is doing neither and I am fine with that. He has my support and I am ok with whatever way others feel about him. I know playing and winning at the level Sens are right now is impossible all year long and absolutely unfair to even give it the slightest consideration ...as long as they win more then they loose Iam totally fine with that .... ALWAYS forward NEVER back (Luke Cage)

 

[Ice-Tray]

You people are nuts. The wins are great of course and I hope they continue.

But eeking out a series of wins against mostly other bottom feeders does not excuse the absolute shit show that has been the DJ Smith show the last few years.

Yup, we’re nuts….

 

[Que]

The coach and GM have a shared vision and a plan. I’m happy it’s leading to playing meaningful hockey as it’s the players and fans who are rewarded. I think Dorion learned not to give too much transactional authority to DJ from his time with Guy and it’s been a net positive.

I know nothing about coaching or NHL systems but what I am happy to see are two things; that our players are making fewer mental gaffes and that our systems seem to becoming more confident and aggressive over the course of the season, primarily 5 on 5 and the PP.

To me those are all very positive signs.

 

[HSF]

still need a better coach

will be interesting to see how we do against some better teams

 

[JD1]

still need a better coach

will be interesting to see how we do against some better teams

What do you think is achievable with a better coach?

There's pk, PP and 5 on 5

What gets better with a different coach?

 

[cudi]

still need a better coach

will be interesting to see how we do against some better teams

pretty 1 note these days eh

 

[Tuna99]

Ottawa took a lot of bad penalties last night, Ottawa is the 5th most penalized team in the NHL and 2 team above them have played 2 more games. Ottawa has the 9th most penalties last season.

Would like to see the discipline turned around - can’t be giving Detroit chances like that

 

[Big Muddy]

not here for style points

Writing something that is understandable = style points. Novel.

 

[Bevans]

Ottawa took a lot of bad penalties last night, Ottawa is the 5th most penalized team in the NHL and 2 team above them have played 2 more games. Ottawa has the 9th most penalties last season.

Would like to see the discipline turned around - can’t be giving Detroit chances like that

I think Ottawa is also first in penalties drawn.

Considering how prevalent game management is, I wonder if their excessive penalty taking is driving up their powerplay opportunities or vice versa.

 

[BankStreetParade]

I think Ottawa is also first in penalties drawn.

Considering how prevalent game management is, I wonder if their excessive penalty taking is driving up their powerplay opportunities or vice versa.

Some of the penalties called against them over the last few games have been real head-scratchers.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I think Ottawa is also first in penalties drawn.

Considering how prevalent game management is, I wonder if their excessive penalty taking is driving up their powerplay opportunities or vice versa.

We've had super undisciplined stretches, and maybe have benefited from game management earlier in the season, but I definitely think we've been the victim of it recently.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I do think the team still needs more structure. Forwards in particular need to help out the defense more. Guys aren't always leaving themselves open in transition to receive a pass from our blueliners, so we're often just dumping the puck into the offensive zone, and then pursuing it half-hardheartedly. Need to keep working at it and think less and act more, if that makes any sense.

 

[Micklebot]

I expressly didn’t suggest DJ and MacLean were in the same situation, I just questioned your statement by saying “I don’t think it’s true MacLean was brought in to a team expected to make the playoffs”. The Sens were definitely in transition when they hired MacLean, whether we call it a rebuild or retool doesn’t really matter, playoffs we’re not the expectation year one.
Most prognosticators had us missing the playoffs (if not dead last in the east):

The Hockey News 2011-12 NHL predictions | The Hockey News

2011/2012 NHL Season Predictions: Eastern Conference - The Hockey Writers Uncategorized Latest News, Analysis & More

Eastern Conference // Western Conference With most teams kicking off training camp this week, preseason hockey right around the corner and puck drop slightly less than a month away, you…

thehockeywriters.com

2011-12 season preview: Ottawa Senators

The Senators might have a chance to be scrappy during the 2011-12 season, but they might be better off hitting the lottery for another year.

nhl.nbcsports.com

NHL 2011-2012 Predictions: Bold Eastern Conference Preview and Picks

It's that time of year again, folks. Hockey is back, and the faceoff of the 2011-2012 NHL season is less than two weeks away. With the preseason already underway, the ongoing river of "expert" predictions is in full swing...

bleacherreport.com

Even Bryan Murray thought the Sens were in a “growth stage” in 2011-2012: Sens enthusiastic about youthful look – Sportsnet.ca

Ok fair enough, though I still think internal expectations were higher than the media's, year 1 would have had lowered expectations, the other 3 years of MacLean however were certainly expectations of playoffs, so the overall point remains valid, MacLean's record comes largely from teams expected to contend for a playoff spot, and I think it's fair to say a quicker turn around and more competitive team overall would be expected when you keep core vets like Spezza, Alfredsson and Gonchar, as compared to coming onto a team that just traded off their core vets in Stone, Duchene and one year prior Karlsson.

 

[BankStreetParade]

I do think the team still needs more structure. Forwards in particular need to help out the defense more. Guys aren't always leaving themselves open in transition to receive a pass from our blueliners, so we're often just dumping the puck into the offensive zone, and then pursuing it half-hardheartedly. Need to keep working at it and think less and act more, if that makes any sense.

I think our depth players haven't been just inadequate, they've been downright detrimental to the team. Almost all of the instances of this team getting caved in defensively are at the hands of Watson, Kelly, Joseph, Motte, Brassard, Zaitsev (has been better since his trip to Belleville), Holden, Kastelic, Brannstrom and company.

Maybe some of those players have better performances in them but have been limited by the true dead weight on this roster? That's kind of hard to quantify in a vacuum, I guess.

Especially this team's 4th line though, total momentum killer. I don't know where to find the stat, but I'm willing to wager they've been responsible for many of the longest shifts we've seen where the team has been hemmed in their own zone for 90+ seconds.

Pushing Pinto down when Norris and Stutzle are back should help. Joseph and Formenton pushing guys like Kelly and Watson out of the lineup would also help. All that to say, I don't know if alot of this is structure related or simply bad personnel performing poorly and that sticking out to us.

 

[HSF]

What do you think is achievable with a better coach?

There's pk, PP and 5 on 5

What gets better with a different coach?

biggest thing is adapting. DJ has always shown to be slow at adapting his teams game play especially when they get flustered and lose structure

I would have also started giroux and cat on the top pp unti from day 1. Other obvious stuff like defensemen usage

This team should be higher in the standings then they are imo